Transparency regarding interests that could influence research or introduce bias is a fundamental ethical requirement in scholarly publishing. The journal requires all parties involved – including authors, editors, and reviewers – to disclose such interests.
Disclosure Requirements for Authors
All authors are required to disclose any financial or personal relationships with other individuals or organisations that could potentially influence or bias their work. This includes interests existing during the three years prior to the start of the research up to the preparation of the manuscript, as well as any interests outside that timeframe that could reasonably be perceived as influential. Authors are required to complete and submit the official "Declaration of Competing Interests" form at the time of submission (https://zenodo.org/records/17764062/files/Declaration_Competing_Interests_Form.docx?download=1).
Definitions and Examples of Potential Conflicts of Interest
Disclosure should cover both financial and non‑financial interests. Examples include the following:
Category Examples of Interests to Disclose
Financial Interests Employment (recent, current, or prospective); consultancy; stock ownership; lecture honoraria; fees for expert testimony; patents; grants, research support, or other funding provided by sponsors.
Non‑Financial Interests Professional affiliations, personal relationships, or individual beliefs that could introduce bias; membership on editorial boards or advisory councils; direct scientific competition; supervisor‑student relationships.
"Embarrassment Test": A practical guide for disclosure is for the author to ask themselves: "If this agreement or relationship were disclosed after publication without prior declaration, would it embarrass me or my colleagues?"
Submission Requirement
Authors must upload the signed conflict of interest form. Additionally, a summary of this declaration must be included in the "Conflict of Interest Disclosure" section of the manuscript, placed before the reference list. The corresponding author is the guarantor of all authors' compliance with this policy.
Conflicts of Interest for Editors and Reviewers
Editors: Members of the Editorial Board and guest editors must declare any potential conflicts in writing before their appointment and update them if new interests arise. They must not handle manuscripts they have written themselves, or that have been written by family members or close colleagues. Such manuscripts must be handled entirely independently by another editor. Reviewers: Before accepting a review invitation, reviewers must inform the Editor‑in‑Chief of any potential conflicts of interest (e.g., recent collaboration or shared institutional affiliation with an author). Reviewers are also prohibited from suggesting citations to their own (or their close associates') work unless there are genuine scientific reasons to do so
